Majority of office-based physicians can exchange lab, medication data

In 2011, the majority of office-based physicians could exchange lab and medication data, and approximately one-third could exchange clinical summaries with patients or outside providers, according to a study conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

The study sought to provide national estimates of physician capability of clinical data exchange and examine variation in exchange abilities across states and EHR vendors using the 2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey EMR Supplement.

The survey, administered by mail with a follow-up telephone call, involved 4,326 respondents. In 2011:

• 55 percent of physicians could send prescriptions electronically;
• 67 percent could view lab results electronically;
• 42 percent could incorporate lab results into their EHR;
• 35 percent could send lab orders electronically; and
• 31 percent exchanged patient clinical summaries with other providers.

Substantial minorities of physicians with no EHR have the ability to send prescriptions or view lab results, highlighting the role that stand-alone e-prescribing products and proprietary portals continue to play in facilitating physician access to pharmacy and lab result data, the report found.

EHR adoption is the strongest factor associated with exchange, especially of clinical summaries. To that end, very few physicians without an EHR have the capability to electronically exchange clinical summaries and lab orders, according to the report.

The report also found that physician exchange capability also varied widely across states, depending on state health IT investment, state legislation and regulations.

“Our findings suggest that while most physicians possess the capability to meet certain health information exchange-related Meaningful Use requirements such as e-prescribing, physicians are less prepared to meet other upcoming stage 2 core HIE requirements such as clinical care summary exchange,” wrote lead author Vaishali Patel, PhD, senior advisor, ONC, et al. “It will be important to monitor these key measures of exchange capability as ambulatory providers implement EHRs meeting Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements and as shifts in healthcare delivery require robust exchange of health information.”

Read the study here.